The Easton Ambassadors are looking for a little help from their friends to generate needed money to sustain and expand the program.

The red-shirted Ambassadors clean Downtown streets, assist visitors with local tourism questions and provide police with an extra set of eyes to spot potential trouble.

But officials say reduced funding has limited their ability to perform their duties. Their patrol shrank in 2012 to cover primarily Centre Square and nearby Third and Northampton streets.

The group's budget is about $230,000 this year but if it can raise its revenues by at least $50,000 to previous years' totals, it may be able to expand its reach to Pine and Fifth streets, as it had done in the past, officials said.

A newly formed organization, Friends of the Easton Ambassadors, is meeting Aug. 14 to brainstorm ways to raise cash. The meeting isn't open to the public.

Nick Morrone is part of the new group and he is passionate about helping the Ambassadors.

"I've lived in Easton all my life," he said. "I've seen the Ambassadors clean the riff-raff out of storefronts. They are vital to this city."

The Greater Easton Development Partnership oversees the program, which is funded largely by contributions from Crayola, Lafayette College and Northampton County's hotel tax. The Ambassadors also receive city funds through the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

The Easton Ambassadors' goal is to raise enough money annually to become financially independent from city funding, said Gretchen Longenbach, executive director of GEDP.

Longenbach said multiple companies and investors have told her they decided to do business in Easton as a direct result of the positive impact the Ambassadors have had on streets.

Ambassadors try to improve Easton's appearance by removing graffiti when needed, watering and maintaining flower pots, and picking up trash.

"You can't have a lot of the special events like the farmers' market and other investments Downtown if people don't perceive that it's a clean and safe environment," Longenbach said. "They are wildly important to the city."